July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, led by industrial companies, after a report that the U.S. and China were trying to resume negotiations to defuse a trade war between world's two largest economies.

Representatives of U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He are having private conversations as they look for ways to reengage in negotiations, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. (bloom.bg/2mZgU3V)

The escalating trade dispute between the two countries, with the United States and China imposing tariffs on $34 billion of each other's goods earlier this month, has weighed heavily on the equity markets. The likelihood of a respite boosted the markets, with nine of the 11 major S&P sectors higher.

The industrials sector jumped 1.74 percent and was on pace for its best one-day gain in three weeks. Boeing, Caterpillar and 3M jumped between 1.7 percent and 2.5 percent.

"The notion that side talks are happening has been an ongoing thing, but the question is who is really involved in those talks and if they are substantial," said Jason Browne, chief investment strategist at FundX Investment Group in San Francisco.

"Overall people are trying to look for something other than technology stocks at the moment."

After a three-day slide, the technology sector rose 0.39 percent. Microsoft gained 0.7 percent and was the biggest boost to the S&P and the Nasdaq.

Apple, due to report after the bell, was marginally lower. Others in the so-called FAANG group — Facebook, Amazon.com, Netflix and Google parent Alphabet — were flat to up 1 percent.

At 11:23 a.m. ET the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 121.44 points, or 0.48 percent, at 25,428.27, the S&P 500 was up 13.52 points, or 0.48 percent, at 2,816.12 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 36.65 points, or 0.48 percent, at 7,666.65.